President of the Republic General Michel Aoun welcomed on Saturday UK’s State Minister of International Development Affairs Priti Patel in the presence of Britain’s Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter, noting that Lebanon is looking forward to enjoying the UK’s support to solve the displaced Syrians’ problem.
Patel congratulated Aoun on his election as President of the Republic, underscoring the United Kingdom support to Lebanon in all fields as well as its willingness to strengthen friendship relations between the two countries.
“Our relations are strong and we would work to strengthen them, especially in the economic field. We will also provide aid in shouldering the burden of the displaced Syrians,” Patel told the President of the Republic, pointing out that her country would urge the International community to double their aid to Lebanon.
In turn, the President thanked Patel and praised the Kingdom’s efforts to support Lebanon in facing challenges, especially those related to terrorism and the displaced Syrians’ crisis.
The President pointed out that Lebanon would like to enjoy Britain’s support to” find a solution to the displaced Syrians’ crisis by facilitating their safe return to their country as Lebanon cannot bear anymore the burdens of this unprecedented displacement,” reiterating the need to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis.
Aoun also thanked Britain for hosting the Donor Countries’ conference which was held in February 2016, hoping Britain will continue providing Lebanon with the needed support in this context, especially that a follow- up conference is to be held in Belgium in April 2017.
